Few companies can claim the kind of staying power Daikin Australia has built since entering the market in 1969. More than five decades on, the company is doubling down on local manufacturing, job creation and community support at a moment when economic uncertainty has pushed many businesses to pull back.
The clearest sign is its second Sydney factory, opened with support from the New South Wales government. The facility expands Daikin’s capacity for large commercial products while creating 60 new full-time manufacturing jobs. For Managing Director Hideaki Furihata, the investment reflects more than operational growth. “It tells a story of local commitment and long-term investment,” he said.
“This second factory isn’t just a building. It’s a statement that we’re here for the long haul.”
Hideaki Furihata, Managing Director, Daikin Australia
That local mindset runs through the company’s broader identity. Daikin’s Australian operations bring together employees from more than 30 nations, while most of its senior leadership team has been with the company for over a decade. That longevity speaks to a culture built on stability, experience and trust, with people at the center of the business.
“This second factory isn’t just a building,” Furihata said. “It’s a statement that we’re here for the long haul.”
Daikin’s long-term view also reaches beyond its own walls. By bringing its raw materials warehouse on-site, the new facility removes more than 1,000 heavy vehicle trips from local roads each year. Solar expansion is set to lift renewable electricity use to more than half the site’s needs in 2026. Four consecutive Trusted Brand Awards underscore how strongly that local commitment resonates with Australian customers.
Still, Furihata returns to people first.
“Comfort, to me, is about confidence,” he said, adding that “what we’re really delivering is peace of mind.” In Australia, that promise is increasingly being built locally, sustained by loyal leadership and shared by the communities Daikin continues to back.
